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Liverpool unluckiest team in Premier League last season, according to ESPN Luck Index

Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino appeal for handball against Stoke City's Erik Pieters (not pictured) at Anfield
Image: Liverpool lost out on 12 points according to the Luck Index

Liverpool were the unluckiest team in the Premier League last season while Manchester United were among the luckiest, new research has revealed.

According to the ESPN Luck Index, a research project designed and carried out by ESPN, Intel and experts at the University of Bath, Liverpool were denied 12 points in matches affected by wrongly disallowed goals or incorrect decisions on penalties and red cards.

Conversely, Manchester United gained six points from decisions that went in their favour.

Jose M
Image: The study revealed Jose Mourinho's Manchester United side gained six points

Using a predictive model which crunched hundreds of data points and working in collaboration with former Premier League referee Peter Walton, a research team analysed footage from every game of the season to see which major incidents should have been overturned.

Liverpool would have finished second (still 10 points adrift of Manchester City) according to the Luck Index and Manchester United would have finished fourth.

ESPN LUCK INDEX

The study also revealed Huddersfield and not Stoke would have been relegated. Huddersfield would have remained on 37 points while Stoke lost out on four which would have seen them stay up.

Brighton would have won an additional £11.5m in prize money in their first season in the Premier League by finishing six places higher, while Leicester would have won £9.6m less.

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'Luck Index' simulated table 2017-18

Team Revised Points Total Points Adjustment
Manchester City 97 -3
Liverpool 87 +12
Tottenham 77 0
Manchester United 75 -6
Arsenal 71 +8
Chelsea 70 0
Burnley 50 -4
Newcastle 48 +4
Brighton 46 +6
Everton 44 -5
Crystal Palace 42 -2
West Ham 41 -1
Watford 41 0
Leicester 40 -7
Southampton 40 +4
Bournemouth 38 -6
Stoke 37 +4
Huddersfield 37 0
Swansea 34 +1
West Brom 33 +2

"The ESPN Luck Index powered by Intel analysed more than 150 incidents throughout the season, and used data ranging from recent form and team strength to game state and home advantage," said University of Bath assistant professor Thomas Curran.

"Then we simulated each game thousands of times to model how it should have turned out - it is one of the most detailed pieces of research we have ever conducted."

Former referee Walton added: "The results demonstrate the impact and importance of refereeing decisions on a game.

"With the Premier League deciding not to introduce VAR for the coming season, it is interesting to see how much luck plays a part in the way the league unfolds."

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